In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court has dismissed the suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking the disqualification of President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima, from the 2023 presidential election. The Apex Court held that the suit filed by PDP was grossly lacking in merit and has approved their inauguration.
The lead judgment delivered by Justice Adamu Jauro slammed a fine of N2 million on PDP for its interference in the internal affairs of the All Progressives Congress (APC) regarding the conduct of the primary elections and nomination of candidates.
Justice Jauro agreed with Tinubu’s lawyer, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, that the PDP acted as a busybody and a meddlesome interloper in the ways and manners it dabbled into APC’s affairs unjustly. The Apex Court held that PDP lacked the required jurisdiction to institute the suit and failed to provide any evidence that Shettima engaged in double nomination.
The Supreme Court stated that the PDP’s claim on the alleged double nomination of the Vice President-elect was most unfortunate, deliberate, and a clear mischief meant to mislead the Court and the country. It further held that regardless of how APC conducted its primary election and nominated its candidates, PDP must remain an onlooker.
The Supreme Court condemned PDP’s use of social media to set a booby trap for the Supreme Court to blackmail it, saying this is most unfortunate, unwarranted, and uncalled for.
With this ruling, Tinubu and Shettima are free to take office and start delivering on their promises to Nigerians.
Details of the ruling will be made available later.
